Rocket helicopter toy



June 15, 1 1.. w. BROWN ROCKET HELICOPTER TOY Filed Feb. 18, 1946 IN VEN TOR. Lawrence W Brown Patented June 15, 1948 *UINI TED S TATIEE 71 FlCE BOCKETHELICOPTER"TOY Lawrence .W.:Brown, Clinton, "Mo.

Application' February"18, 1946, 'Serial='No."fi48;23'5

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a h'elicoptertoy and more-particularly to ahelicopter toy having rooket propulsion for rotating and effectinglifting of' said toy into the air providing amusement with little dangerof' burns or fire.

' The principal objects of the present invention are-to provide a toyhaving combined rocket. propuision and helicopter action; to provide apropellant'charge so arranged that the initial ignitionis sufiicienttolift the toy butnot powerful enoughto'cause explosion of the device; .toprovide :a'rocket toy with a jetapertureithat will retainits-sizethroughoutthe burning of the propulsion-charge; to "provide ajetaperture'in a rocket toy :where the-escaping-burning gases will notignite any portion ofthe toy; to provide a rocket'toy of substantiallynon-inflammabl mater-ial except-forthe charge therein; to provide arockethelicopter toy with an explosive charge for exploding said toyat'the peak of its flight; and to provide an amusing, economical andhighly'efficient'rocket helicopter toy that is relatively-safe tooperate.

In accomplishing these and other objects-of the present invention, 1have provided improved details of structure, thepreferred iormof whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rocket helicopter:toyembodyin thefeatures of the present invention.

FigJ'Z isapIan-VieW of the toy,.portions being broken-away: toillustrate the arrangement-"f the fuseandjet'orifice.

1F.ig.i3 is :a vertical longitudinal sectional view through :thezbody ofthe "toy on the line ;3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional ".viewthrough the body of:the toyon;the.line 4-4 of j Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of therhelicopter wing.

Fig. 'fi is a detail'perspective'view of'the body of the toy,ithe-partsthereo'f'being shown'in disassembledspaced relation.

Referring more in detail to the-drawing:

.I generallydesignates a rocket'helicopter toy constructed in accordancewith the :preferred form of *the invention. The toy :preferably consistsof a bodyZ having a longitudinal axis-arrangedhorizontally andincludingraitubet made substantially non-"inflammable by formin same of'--tightly rolled paper. The rear 'end '4 of the tube 3'isclosed by'aplugf5-=preferably formed 'of ceramic "material. The plug hash tight fitinto the here 6 i the *tube 'and if -desired may 'be cementedorotherwisesecured in place with the flat rear face 1-of the plug flushwith-the rear end ofthe'tube 3. The forward end Of the plug 5 isprovided'wi-th' a conical'socket 8 adaptedto receive-a conicalprojection 9 on a propulsion charge H3, said charge preferablyconsisting of black powder pressedinto a'cylindri-cal shape to fit intothe bore 6 of the tube '3.

Approximately midway the depth of the socket t the plug 5 is providedwith an aperture ll preferably extending radially through' the wall ofthe plug and downwardlyat approximately a thirty degree angle to ahorizontal line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 2.The aperture H aligns With'a recess I'Z in the conical projection't ofthe propulsion charge l0 and an aperture ['3 in the tube3. The aperturesHand l3 andtherecess l2 are of such size to receive a standard size fuseof suitable length, the inner end of said fuse restingin therecess l2'in contact with the charge I'll so any'burningof the rotated send for:end.

fuse will'igmte said charge. The fuse I4 is preferably held'intheapertures by-an adhesive tape l5 such as Cellophane tape, said 'tapebeing 'wrapped aroundthe fuse-adjacent thetube 3 and the ends 46 of thetape are drawn upwardly over the-top-of-th'e tubewhere said ends aresecured to the tube in lapping condition.

While "I-have described the fuse l4 and jet apertures 'as'being'locatedat an angle'of'approximately thirty degrees with the horizontal, it isobvious other angularities would provide the same jet propulsionwith'some difference in the lift provided by saidjet.

In order to providea helicopter action'to the rocket toy, a horizontalwing l-T is located near the front of the 'bod-y 2 an'd'secure'dzabovethe horizontal longitudinal axis thereof by suitable fastening .means.The-win may be any suitable material, but preferably consists :ofa'metal strip l8 mounted edgewise in a vertical transverse slot :Ii9 invthetuhe 3, .the .ends of'said Strip'extending "laterally of said tube.The ends are twisted in-opposite directions at apoint 20 ad- ;jacent thetube-to ;prov-ide-blades -2l and -22 having opposing edges bent upwardlyat an angle or ia'reverse warp in said blades which will tend toli'ftthetoy fromrtheground when, said toy is The upper edge 23 .of :theblade;2l,;located onthe same side 'ofthe'tubeas the'gietiaperture, istwisted toward therear of the device rand theupper edge :24 of theopposite blade -22iistwisted=toward=theiorward end of the tube :asillustrated :to obtain the lifting efiect. The

- wing. may-be :secured to the ;tube bytmeans of an 3 adhesive tapewhich has one end '25 secured to the top of the tube at the rear of theslot IS. The other end 26 of the tape extends over the front of the tubeand is turned under the tube where it is secured to said tube tosecurely hold the wing in place.

If desired, the toy may be provided with an explosive charge 21 at theforward end of the propulsion charge, said explosion charge beingignited when the propulsion charge has substantially completed itsburning or at the peak of the flight of the toy, thereby providing aloud noise to add to the amusement provided by the device. The explosivecharge may be of any suitable material such as a pellet of granulatedblack powder. When an explosive charge is used in the toy, the forwardend of the tube is provided with a packing or wadding 28 of fiberboardwhich is tightly pressed to prevent igniting thereof. The packing 28 ispressed into the tube 3 into contact with the explosive charge .7 whereit seals the forward end of the tube.

The operation of the rocket helicopter toy constructed as described isas follows:

The toy is placed on the ground or other suitable surface with thelongitudinal axis of the body horizontal and the wing H on the upperside of said body. The, fuse i l is thenignited. Burning of the fusewill direct a flame into the recess #2 in the conical projection 9 ofthe propellant charge iii to ignite same creating gases which willescape through the apertures ii and K3 in the plug E, and tube 3respectively. The projection 9 of the charge H3 is small therebypreventing too rapid initial burning and formation of sufficient gas toexplode the toy; The force of the escaping gases through the jetapertures ii and it will cause the toy to rotate or spin and be liftedby the wing ll, the body turning end for end and the longitudinal axisof the body remaining substantially horizontal during the rotation andlifting action. The location of the jet aperture radially and below ahorizontal line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body ofthe toy also provides lift thereto. When the propellant charge is burnedand the toy is at approximately the peak of its flight, the explosivecharge is ignited from the propellant charge. The explosive charge willcause a loud noise and also the force of the explosion will blowout anyflames if any portion of the toy should become ignited; however, thereis substantially no danger of fire in the use of this toy as the tightlywound paper tube 3 is substantially non-inflammable and the wing istoward the front on the opposite end of the tube from the jet aperturesH and I3.

The plug 4 being of suitable ceramic materials prevents enlargement ofthe aperture ll due to burning and maintains an even propulsion of thetoy throughout its flight.

It is believed to be obvious that the present invention combines rocketpropulsion and helicopter action in a safe amusement toy.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy of the character described, a horizontal body member having alongitudinal bore therein, a substantially horizontal wing mounted onthe top of the body member including laterally reversely warpedextending blades adapted to lift the toy when said body member isrotated end for end, a non-inflammable means closing one end of the borein the body member and having a laterally arranged jet aperture, a pro-4 pulsion charge in the bore, means extending through the jet apertureand having contact with the propulsion charge for igniting thepropulsion charge adjacent the bore closing means whereby gases formedby burning the charge are discharged through the jet aperture to efiectend for end rotation of the body member, and an explosive charge in thebore of the body member in contact with the propulsion charge on theopposite end thereof relative to the jet aperture whereby said explosivecharge is ignited at the termination of the burning or" the propulsioncharge.

2. A toy of the character described, a horizon tal body member having alongitudinal bore therein, a substantially horizontal wing mounted onthe top of the body member including laterally extending reverselywarped blades adapted to lift the toy when said body member is rotatedend for end, ceramic means closing one end of the bore in the the bodymember and having a laterally arranged jet aperture, a propulsion chargein the bore having a reduced portion adjacent the bore closing means,means extending through the jet aperture and having contact with thereduced portion of the propulsion charge for igniting said reducedportion whereby gases formed by the initial burning the charge areprogressively increased and discharged through the jet aperture toefiect end for end rotation of the body member, and an explosive chargein the bore of the body member in contact with the propulsion charge onthe opposite end thereof relative to the jet aperture whereby saidexplosive charge is ignited at the termination of the burning of thepropulsion charge.

3. A toy or the character described, a horizontal body member having alongitudinal bore therein and a laterally and downwardly directedaperture extending through the wall of said body member adjacent one endthereof, means mounted adjacent the other end of the body member andhaving laterally extending reversely warped blades adapted to lift thetoy when said body member is rotated end for end, a ceramic plug in thebore adjacent the aperture in the body member, said plug having aradially arranged aperture aligned with the aperture in the body memberproviding communication from outside the body to the bore therein, apropellant charge in the bore of the body member and having a reducedportion adjacent the plug, and a fuse extending through the alignedapertures and having contact with thepropellant charge for ignitingsame, the burning or" said propellant charge forming gases for dischargethrough the aligned apertures to effect rotation of the body member, thegases formed by the initial burning of the propellant charge beinginsuflicient to explode the toy.

4. A toy of the character described, a horizontal body member having alongitudinal bore the-rein and a laterally and downwardly directedaperture extending through the wall of said body member adjacent one endthereof, a substantially horizontal wing mounted on top of the bodymember adjacent the other end thereof and having laterally extendingreversely warped blades adapted to lift the toy when said body member isrotated end for end, a non-inflammable plug in the bore adjacent theaperture in the body member, said plug having a radially arrangedaperture aligned with the aperture in the body member providingcommunication from outside the body to the bore therein, a propellantcharge in the bore of the body member and having a reduced portionadjacent the plug, a fuse extending through the aligned apertures andhaving contact with the reduced portion of the propellant charge forigniting same, the burning of said propellant charge forming gases fordischarge through the aligned apertures for eifecting rotation of thebody member, the gases formed by the initial burning of the reducedportion of the propellant charge being insufficient to explode the toy,and an explosive charge in the bore of the body member and in contactwith the opposite end of the propellant charge from the reduced portionwhereby said explosive charge is ignited at the end of the burning ofthe propellant charge.

5. A toy of the character described, a horizontal body member having alongitudinal bore therein and a laterally directed aperture extendingthrough the wall of said body member adjacent one end thereof, ahorizontal wing mounted on top of the body member and adjacent the otherend thereof and having laterally extending reversely warped bladesadapted to lift the toy when said body member is rotated end for end,means for securing the wing to the body member, a ceramic plug in thebore adjacent the aperture in the body member having a recesscommunicating with said bore, said plug having a radially arrangedaperture aligned with the aperture in the body member providingcommunication from outside the body to the recess in said plug, apropellant charge in the bore of the body member and having a reducedprojection extending into the recess of the plug, a fuse extendingthrough the aligned apertures and having contact with the projection ofthe propellant charge for igniting same, the burning of said propellantcharge forming gases for discharge through the aligned apertures toeffect end for end rotation of the body member, the initial burning ofthe reduced portion of the propellant charge being insufilcient toexplode the toy, means for securing the fuse to the body member, anexplosive charge in the bore of the body member and in contact with theopposite end of the propellant charge from the projection whereby saidexplosive charge is ignited at the end of the burning of the propellantcharge, and a packing in the bore for confining said explosive charge.

6. A toy of the character described, a horizontal body member having alongitudinal bore therein and a laterally directed aperture extendingthrough the Wall of said body member adjacent one end thereof, ahorizontal wing mounted on top of the body member and adjacent the otherend thereof and having laterally extending reversely warped bladesadapted to lift the toy when said body member is rotated end for end,means for securing the wing to the body memher, a ceramic plug in thebore adjacent the aperture in the body member having a recesscommunicating with said bore, said plug having a radially arrangedaperture aligned with the aperture in the body member providingcommunication from outside the body to the recess in said plug, apropellant charge in the bore of the body member and having a reducedprojection extending into the recess of the plug, a fuse extendingthrough the aligned apertures and having contact with the projection ofthe propellant charge for igniting same, the burning of said propellantcharge forming gases for discharge through the aligned apertures toeffect end for end rotation of the body member, the initial burning ofthe reduced portion of the propellant charge being insufficient toexplode the toy.

LAWRENCE W. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 37,940 Plant Mar. 17, 1863693,327 Matteson et al Feb. 11, 1902 1,554,065 Blair Sept. 15, 19251,714,671 Hitt May 28, 1929 2,001,496 Kroelling May 14, 1935 2,174,202Cimorosi Sept. 26', 1939 2,259,155 Driggs Oct. 14, 1941

